First it was a change to Aeroplan re: how members earn points and elite status.
Now Air Canada will start cancelling flights on Thursday in anticipation of a possible strike that could see more than 10,000 flight attendants walk off the job this weekend.
According to a report by the CBC, the airline says flights will be gradually reduced, with more cancellations on Friday, leading to a complete halt of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge operations by the weekend to ensure an orderly shutdown.
A disruption could impact roughly 130,000 passengers per day, according to the carrier.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) issued Air Canada the required 72-hour strike notice overnight after contract talks hit an “impasse” on Tuesday.
This means flight attendants could walk off the job as early as 12:58 a.m. ET on Saturday.
In response, CUPE says Air Canada has served a lockout notice set to begin at 1:30 a.m. ET that same day — a move the airline confirmed on Wednesday.
What is Air Canada's obligation to passengers?
Air Canada has stated that customers affected by cancelled flights will be notified and eligible for a full refund.
The airline has arranged partnerships with other Canadian and international carriers to offer alternative travel options whenever possible, including for passengers whose itineraries change mid-journey.
A flexible rebooking policy is also in place, allowing all customers to change or defer travel at no additional cost.
Flights operated by Air Canada Express through Jazz and PAL Airlines will continue as scheduled, as flight attendants under these operations are not involved in the current negotiations.
The airline has noted that under Canada’s Airline Passenger Protection Regulations, customers are not entitled to compensation for delays or cancellations caused by events outside the carrier’s control, such as strikes or lockouts.
However, Air Passenger Rights advocacy group president Gabor Lukacs points out that Air Canada is responsible for its decision to cancel flights preemptively in anticipation of a strike or lockout that has not yet begun, describing it as a business decision fully within the airline’s control rather than a safety requirement.
Passengers with flights cancelled on Thursday or Friday before the work stoppage takes effect must be given a choice between two options.
The first option is to be rebooked at no additional cost on the next available flight, including those operated by competing carriers, with meals, overnight accommodation, and cash compensation depending on the length of the delay.
The second option is to receive a refund within 30 days, along with compensation of up to $400 per passenger for inconvenience.
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